Quantitative Economics Major
The Bachelor’s of Science in Quantitative Economics provides a range of coursework in economics and related fields to prepare students for careers in a variety of quantitative occupations as well as graduate school in economics or related fields.
Goal 1: Students will understand how all issues in economics involve making choices in the context of scarcity.
Objective 1.1: Students will be able to explain the concept of opportunity cost.
Objective 1.2: Students will understand the concept that decision-making takes place at the margin and explain how this affects the behavior of consumers and firms.
Goal 2: Students will understand how economic agents interact.
Objective 2.1: Students will be able to explain the supply and demand model and how it is applied to input and output markets as well as the macro economy.
Goal 3: Students will be able to identify important economic variables, understand how they are measured, and explain what they tell us.
Objective 3.1: Students will be able to define and know the approximate value of some key macroeconomic variables in the US, including GDP growth, inflation, unemployment, and interest rates. Furthermore, students will know how these variables are measured, how they affect us and understand the difference between “nominal” and “real” values.
Goal 4: Students will be able to demonstrate knowledge of econometric and quantitative methodology in economics.
Objective 4.1: Students will be able to use statistical and econometric techniques for estimation and analysis.
Objective 4.2: Students will be able to apply quantitative methods to economic theories and models.
Requirements for the Quantitative Economics Major (B.S.)
The traditional undergraduate programs includes a minimum of 120 credits distributed across three components: A General Education component divided into Signature Courses, Variable Courses, and an Integrative Learning requirement; a Major and Divisional component; and Free Electives. In addition to course requirements as specified in each area, students must complete one certified course in each of the following overlay areas1:
- Diversity, Globalization or Non-western Area Studies,
- Ethics Intensive
- Writing Intensive, and
- Diversity
- 1
Overlay requirements are part of the 120 credit requirements
General Education Signature Courses
See this page about Signature courses.
General Education Variable Courses
See this page about Variable courses. Six to Nine courses
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Social/Behavioral Sciences: | ||
| ECN 101 | Introductory Economics Micro | 3 |
| Math Beauty: Students should select among the following: | ||
| MAT 131 | Linear Methods | 3 |
| MAT 132 | Math of Games & Politics | 3 |
| MAT 134 | Math of Uncertainty:Rules/Prob | 3 |
| MAT 155 | Fundamentals of Calculus | 3 |
| MAT 161 | Calculus I | 4 |
General Education Overlays
General Education Integrative Learning Component
See this page about Integrative Learning Component. Three courses:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Any calculus course including:* | ||
| MAT 123 | Differential Calculus | 3 |
| or MAT 155 | Fundamentals of Calculus | |
| or MAT 161 | Calculus I | |
| *For students who have already completed calculus for Math Beauty or received AP calculus credit, students will complete any course in the College of Arts & Sciences | ||
| Two additional courses chosen from Math (MAT) (this is in addition to the Math Beauty requirement and the statistics requirement) or Data Science (DSC), or Computer Science (CSC) or Geographic Information Systems (GIS) or Decision System Sciences (DSS). Suggested courses include: | 6 | |
| Calculus II | ||
| Calculus III | ||
| Introduction to Linear Algebra | ||
| Python Programming for All | ||
| Databases for All | ||
| Data Structures | ||
| Intro Math of Data Science | ||
| Essentials of Data Science | ||
| Business Analytics | ||
| Introduction to GIS | ||
| Intermediate GIS | ||
| Total Hours | 9 | |
Major Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ECN 101 | Introductory Economics Micro | 3 |
| ECN 102 | Introductory Economics Macro | 3 |
| ECN 290 | Professional Prep Seminar | 1 |
| ECN 301 | Microeconomic Theory | 3 |
| ECN 302 | Macroeconomic Theory | 3 |
| ECN 410 | Econometrics | 3 |
| Any Statistics Course, including: | 3 | |
| Introduction to Statistics | ||
| Applied Statistics | ||
| Mathematical Statistics | ||
| Business Statistics | ||
| Any three of the following quantitative economics electives 1 | 9 | |
| International Macroeconomics | ||
| Economics of Labor | ||
| Monetary Economics | ||
| Game Theory | ||
| Environmental Economics | ||
| Urban Economics | ||
| Economic Forecasting | ||
| Research Methods | ||
| Economics Internship (with department chair approval) | ||
| Any 300/400-level ECN course | 3 | |
| Experiential Learning Requirement (required starting with students entering in Fall 2023) 2 | ||
Includes ECN491, Service-Learning course, Study abroad, The Washington Center, Independent Study – research, Summer Scholars, Winter Immersion Program (WIP), or Honors Thesis. | ||
| Total Hours | 31 | |
- 1
MAT 311, MAT 322, MAT 423, ASC 401, DSS 420, DSS 435, and DSS 470 can be substituted for the above economics requirements at a maximum of two substitutions.
- 2
ECN 290 and Experiential Learning are required starting with students entering in Fall 2023.